Using a phone charger as LED power supply?

Using a phone charger as LED power supply?

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B

biostudent

Well-Known Member
I have an LED strip at roughly 97.2W and the manufacturer recommends using a constant voltage 120W power supply rated at 12V 10A. I know usually the driver is constant current but I'm just gonna wing it cuz I'm short on time. This is an experimental project.

Anyways, I can't get the appropriate power supply because its out of my budget or out of my reach. I was wondering if I can use this phone charger,
https://www.amazon.ca/Adapter-Converter-Cigarette-Inverter-Massager/dp/B014TCBZPI
..cut off its barrel plug, and rewire it with my strip?

The charger has the exact same specs recommended by the LED manufacturer. 12V 10A AC to DC. And it costs just $33CAD. Then there is another one just like this that I can order from the States that costs $21CAD (I get free deliveries at work).

Just wanted to make sure if it will work? If not why? Also, please recommend a cheap driver that will be appropriate. I don't think I can cut the power down to below 110W.
 
The Dawg

The Dawg

Well-Known Member
biostudent said:
I have an LED strip at roughly 97.2W and the manufacturer recommends using a constant voltage 120W power supply rated at 12V 10A. I know usually the driver is constant current but I'm just gonna wing it cuz I'm short on time. This is an experimental project.

Anyways, I can't get the appropriate power supply because its out of my budget or out of my reach. I was wondering if I can use this phone charger,
https://www.amazon.ca/Adapter-Converter-Cigarette-Inverter-Massager/dp/B014TCBZPI
..cut off its barrel plug, and rewire it with my strip?

The charger has the exact same specs recommended by the LED manufacturer. 12V 10A AC to DC. And it costs just $33CAD. Then there is another one just like this that I can order from the States that costs $21CAD (I get free deliveries at work).

Just wanted to make sure if it will work? If not why? Also, please recommend a cheap driver that will be appropriate. I don't think I can cut the power down to below 110W.
Click to expand...
:roll:
http://www.alliedelec.com/mean-well-usa-lpv-150-12/70473589/?mkwid=siRZqQtpJ&pcrid=30980760979&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5c6xn6zk1AIV1bXACh2QHwzOEAYYByABEgK6kfD_BwE
 
B

biostudent

Well-Known Member
nfhiggs

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
biostudent said:
Thanks.

Will 12V at 16 amps work fine?


I was about to buy from here until I read the seller's reviews. Thought about getting it from what CobKits posted but they won't order unless I buy $100 worth.

Maybe I will have to rearrange my setup to use a more readily available driver.
Click to expand...
One of these will work for you much better than the first one you were looking at:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/5V-12V-24V-DC-AC-1A-10A-30A-50A-70A-Switching-Power-Supply-Adapter-For-LED-Strip-/361924688555?var=&hash=item5444647aab:m:me0jbeHhC4OGQNAZk-jEzLg

Not as efficient as the meanwells, but they work, they are adjustable (+/- 10%) and are dirt cheap. I been using these type of supplies for 6 months now.
 
1

1212ham

Well-Known Member
biostudent said:
Thanks.

Will 12V at 16 amps work fine?
Click to expand...
Any of the supplies posted will work fine, you just need 12v and 9 amps or more. The voltage of the xbox supply can be increased a little and the other supplies posted have a voltage adjustment. It's probably not important as 12v dimmers are very cheap.
 
B

biostudent

Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the input. I'm going through all the options but I'm still wondering if the amazon charger will do the job? The reason why I keep looking at it is because it's cheap, waterproof, and on amazon prime I get it shipped for free in a day.

Many of the alternatives posted don't have the high ingress protection, and although they are cheap, converting to Canadian dollars it becomes a bit more expensive, and if being shipped from outside Canada, the price is further increased by shipping as well as possible customs clearance, as well as several weeks shipping time on standard shipping.

Also, I don't know how to or what to mount the non-waterproof drivers on to. I don't know what kind of chassis is required to encapsulate the psu because I was just planning on leaving the power supply on the ground (where it will surely pick up some dust).

Is there any reason why I shouldn't use this product?
https://www.amazon.ca/Adapter-Converter-Cigarette-Inverter-Massager/dp/B014TCBZPI
I asked the seller and he said it's constant voltage.
 
ssj4jonathan

ssj4jonathan

Well-Known Member
Your phone charger will work. Any AC/DC power adapter rated at 12V and higher than 10A will work. Just cut the end barrel to expose the red and black power leads and attach your LED contacts to them with solder, or however you're suppose to do it.

Your LED strip and COBs are completely different animals.

Your chosen one is real expensive though, eBay has them for a lot cheaper as other users have pointed out. Might take a week to get to you though.
 
Last edited:
nfhiggs

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
biostudent said:
Thanks for all the input. I'm going through all the options but I'm still wondering if the amazon charger will do the job? The reason why I keep looking at it is because it's cheap, waterproof, and on amazon prime I get it shipped for free in a day.

Many of the alternatives posted don't have the high ingress protection, and although they are cheap, converting to Canadian dollars it becomes a bit more expensive, and if being shipped from outside Canada, the price is further increased by shipping as well as possible customs clearance, as well as several weeks shipping time on standard shipping.

Also, I don't know how to or what to mount the non-waterproof drivers on to. I don't know what kind of chassis is required to encapsulate the psu because I was just planning on leaving the power supply on the ground (where it will surely pick up some dust).

Is there any reason why I shouldn't use this product?
https://www.amazon.ca/Adapter-Converter-Cigarette-Inverter-Massager/dp/B014TCBZPI
I asked the seller and he said it's constant voltage.
Click to expand...
The voltage is not adjustable. That's the biggest reason, IMO, to not use it. I like to be able to fine tune the voltage when using CV and parallel COBs/Strips. Amazon has 12V power supplies just like the one I posted. I got my first power supply from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.ca/Lemonbest-Supply-Transformer-Converting-Lights/dp/B00N2RW72C/ref=sr_1_23?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1498961158&sr=1-23&keywords=12V+power+supply
 
V

VegasWinner

Well-Known Member
biostudent said:
Thanks for all the input. I'm going through all the options but I'm still wondering if the amazon charger will do the job? The reason why I keep looking at it is because it's cheap, waterproof, and on amazon prime I get it shipped for free in a day.

Many of the alternatives posted don't have the high ingress protection, and although they are cheap, converting to Canadian dollars it becomes a bit more expensive, and if being shipped from outside Canada, the price is further increased by shipping as well as possible customs clearance, as well as several weeks shipping time on standard shipping.

Also, I don't know how to or what to mount the non-waterproof drivers on to. I don't know what kind of chassis is required to encapsulate the psu because I was just planning on leaving the power supply on the ground (where it will surely pick up some dust).

Is there any reason why I shouldn't use this product?
https://www.amazon.ca/Adapter-Converter-Cigarette-Inverter-Massager/dp/B014TCBZPI
I asked the seller and he said it's constant voltage.
Click to expand...
Do you have Canadian ebay
 
iHearAll

iHearAll

Well-Known Member
With a driver from nonreputable sources, it's advised to get a current rating 30-40% higher than your requirements. You'll be using this driver day in and day out for many hours a day.
 
B

biostudent

Well-Known Member
Is it okay to run an entire 5 meter strip in series on one driver?
I saw on some manufacturer's video they said not to run high current on such lengths. Any truth behind this or alternative?
The strip is 18W/m.
 
iHearAll

iHearAll

Well-Known Member
biostudent said:
Is it okay to run an entire 5 meter strip in series on one driver?
I saw on some manufacturer's video they said not to run high current on such lengths. Any truth behind this or alternative?
The strip is 18W/m.
Click to expand...
what would the voltage and current be of your set up? i think what they meant was not to attempt to reach max power at those lengths. if you are using them in their efficiency range i think it will be ok. any particular reason you would rather use them in series?
 
B

biostudent

Well-Known Member
iHearAll said:
what would the voltage and current be of your set up? i think what they meant was not to attempt to reach max power at those lengths. if you are using them in their efficiency range i think it will be ok. any particular reason you would rather use them in series?
Click to expand...
The strip is 5.4 meters, 18W/m. Total strip is 97.2W. 12 volts.
The manufacturer said to use a 120W supply, 12v 10a, if series.

I'm not a very technical guy when it comes to electrical stuff. I learned about parallel circuits in highschool (11 years ago), something about how volts or amps are divided at the junctions, didn't understand f*ck all tbh. Series is the only thing I know.
Do you guys normally use series or parallel for these setups? Any reason why series should not be used?

Btw, I've decided to go for the eBay units recommended here. Thanks.
 
iHearAll

iHearAll

Well-Known Member
biostudent said:
The strip is 5.4 meters, 18W/m. Total strip is 97.2W. 12 volts.
The manufacturer said to use a 120W supply, 12v 10a, if series.

I'm not a very technical guy when it comes to electrical stuff. I learned about parallel circuits in highschool (11 years ago), something about how volts or amps are divided at the junctions, didn't understand f*ck all tbh. Series is the only thing I know.
Do you guys normally use series or parallel for these setups? Any reason why series should not be used?

Btw, I've decided to go for the eBay units recommended here. Thanks.
Click to expand...
12v seems low to wire in series for that many lights.

Ok, so voltages add up in series and current remains constant through each LED.

Currents add up in parallel while voltage remains constant for each string of leds. So you would likely have a few equivalent series circuits in parallel as your most useable.

Drop a link to the strips your are considering so I can look at the datasheet. Also, I am a degree holding electronics engineer and am studying electrical engineering now. So you can generally trust me . :peace:
(Theyre slightly different degrees Lol, mostly the calculus and differential equations make them different)

I recently made a purchase for some very nice and TCL strips from Estonia via ebay. They come with a dimmable ballast for each strip and you get 5 strips for $50. They need to be mounted to 2" u bar. If you want to follow my build let me know and ill leave a link. They are very efficient LEDs @ 154lm/w as claimed by the seller. Who which also has the best deals for citi leds as well...
 
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